Coastal coralline algae demonstrate an impressive ability to endure persistently extreme low pH levels, shedding light on their resilience in the face of ocean acidification.
A striking observation in recent research published by the Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences reveals a significant aspect of how marine ecosystems are responding to climate change. Ocean acidification poses serious threats to marine habitats, particularly as it relates to anticipated environmental shifts. The degree to which marine species can withstand such changes largely hinges on the natural variability in environmental factors like pH that they encounter.
In a pivotal study by Burdett et al. (2025), researchers have uncovered invaluable time-series data indicating that, in contrast to the steady conditions of the open ocean, coastal ecosystems experience much greater fluctuations in their environmental settings. Notably, during approximately two-thirds of the year, the coastal coralline algae reef under observation was subjected to pH levels that mirror those projected for the year 2100 according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). These pH levels exhibited substantial variation both throughout the day and across different seasons, influenced by factors such as biological activity, tidal movements, and fluctuations in water temperature.
This long-term exposure to consistently low pH environments, coupled with significant variability, may equip coralline algal communities with the necessary adaptations to contend with future acidification challenges. This discovery offers a glimmer of hope for the preservation of these vibrant and diverse ecosystems that are found across the globe.
For further details, you can reference the original study: Burdett, H. L., Mao, J., Foster, G. L., & Kamenos, N. A. (2025). Persistence of extreme low pH in a coralline algae habitat. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, 130, e2025JG009062. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JG009062.
—Xiaojuan Feng, Associate Editor, JGR: Biogeosciences
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